May 25, 2011 | DIY
This week is starting off certainly better than last – I’m on another round of heavy-duty antibiotics so hopefully I’ll beat back this infection in my jaw this time – I just finished up a huge number of projects that have been looming over my head for weeks – and the weather’s turned nice and summery here in Portland. (Finally!)
Img source
So onto what’s been going on in the DIY blogosphere this week…
Lindsay from Delighted Momma made these boho-chic recycled bangles with some hemp cords and old bangles. What a lovely summery twist on an old staple – and can you imagine how gorgeous they would be stacked, wound with a variety of colored hemp cords? (Find every color of hemp cord you may ever want here.)
I’m so glad to have found Fashion Attack, an amazing DIY-er who’s made a number of fashion-forward video tutorials, including those fringed YSL shoes, a fur handbag out of a pillowcase, and an over-the-knee boot. So inspiring!
Lisa Salzer, the designer of Lulu Frost, stopped by StyleList to make a video on how to make a DIY sparkly necklace inspired by her latest collection, using rhinestone chain and long bone hairpipe beads. I just love it when a designer shares her secrets!;-)
Curbly‘s video for making a handbag out of a recycled book makes me want to whip out a box cutter and a lovely old tome. Olympia Le-Tan embroidered clutch, here I come!
Dismount Creative fashioned a faux enamel pendant necklaces…using nailpolish! What a brilliant idea – and a great way to add some colors to metal stampings and blanks and incorporate them into your jewelry.
Refinery29‘s Slideshow of 9 Ways to Tie a Summer Scarf will hopefully help me infuse my normally sloppy summer style with a little bit of chic.
A Matter of Style‘s Neon Candy Bag Tutorial – made from clear plastic folders from the stationery store – now gives me something to do with all those colorful folders I’ve accumulated from the Dollar Store! And I love her branded “M” on the closure – so amazing.:-)
If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at the art of draping, follow Sew Petite Gal‘s lead and make a simple, one-shouldered DIY draped Grecian gown. Perfect for summer pool parties and evening soirees!
If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!
<a href=”https://chiccreativelife.com/category/links-of-the-week”><img src=”https://chiccreativelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/diylotwfeaturedbutton-1.png” /></a>
And since I’m not doing my DIY Roundups anymore, if you have a DIY project, tutorial, or creation that you’d like to see featured on Chic Steals, please email me at carlyjcais at chic-steals dot com – and I’ll try to squeeze it in to one of my Links of the Week posts!
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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May 24, 2011 | Beauty, Score!
I’ve never thought of my underarms as particularly attractive. Though I have major and minor quibbles with many of my bodyparts, I’ve always felt a little bit embarrassed about my underarms. Stubbly, sticky, bumpy, red…definitely not my best feature.:-/
So I was thrilled to hear about Dove Go Sleeveless deodorant, that softens and smooths this hard-to-beautify area of the body. I’ve been an avid Degree clear user for years, since I hate white mess on my clothing and tend to have very damp underarms year-round. (ew) Many deodorants just aren’t strong enough to combat this problem for me.
But the problem with Degree is that it’s so strong, it leaves a thick residue on me that numerous washings just can’t seem to remove completely. My underarms always feel like they’re coated with something, even after scrubbing in the bath at night – and all that scrubbing makes my skin rough, red, and tortured.
When I received Dove deodorant in Nourished Beauty, I couldn’t wait to try it. Upon application, the smell is a bit strong – kind of like baby powder with some added perfumes. But the smell fades fairly quickly, and I was surprised how even after 2 days of applications, my underarms felt…well, smoother. This may be TMI, but you know how those little bumps form in horizontal lines across your underarms the day after you shave? Strangely, this time around they were much smaller/flatter for me, and were not red at all. My underarms are looking better than they ever have…and though I never really thought about making them “pretty,” so to speak – whatever’s in this deodorant (extra moisturizers and Vitamin E and Vitamin F, according to the label – wait, there’s a Vitamin F?? Essential Fatty Acids, apparently), have really smoothed this area out! Plus it keeps underarm dampness at bay, even when I’m working out, and leaves no powdery residue when I wash off in the bath. I can raise my arm now that I’m SURE! (LOL) – that Dove has done its job.;-) (I know you’ll all be checking out my underarms in the top photo – I did no Photoshopping precisely because of that! The photo below looks…well…a little airbrushed IMHO…)
So anyway to get the word out about this new deodorant Dove has teamed up with the stylish Jessica Szohr (of Gossip Girl-fame), to inspire women to get more beautiful underarms and Go Sleeveless with Dove. As part of this campaign, you are invited to design your own sleeveless top with the Go Sleeveless Fashion Challenge app on Dove’s Facebook page, where you can also view the sleeveless top gallery and vote on your favorite designs. By submitting a unique design, each participant will automatically be entered for a chance to win a New York City shopping trip with Jessica Szohr worth $5,000!
(Entries accepted until May 27, 2011 – so get them in now!!)
According to a recent study, nearly 100% of women surveyed think their underarms are unattractive, and more than half of
these women say the condition of their underarms affects their wardrobe choices.
The above statistic had me amused, because I’d be willing to bet that most women’s first reaction when being asked if they thought their underarms were beautiful was probably “Um, I never really thought about it.”;-) Regardless of whether you’ve ever considered the question of Pretty or No? when it comes to your underarms, now you can have a chance to try this deodorant and see if it really, truly makes a difference. (It improved my skin and deodorant build-up issue for me…now if it could only do something about visible stubble!;-)
The PR company who is working with Dove is generously offering full-sized samples of Dove’s new Go Sleeveless deodorant to U.S.-based Chic Steals readers – just leave a comment with your email address on this post and I’ll pick 4 comments at random after next Tuesday (May 31, 11:59 PM PST).
Leave your email address below for a chance
to try out the new Dove Go Sleeveless deodorant!
FTC Disclosure: I received a full size of Dove Go Sleeveless deodorant, and am being provided with 4 samples for my readers. I have not received any cash or compensation for this post; the above is my honest opinion and review of the deodorant. To read my full Disclosure Policy, see here.
xoxo
Carly
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May 23, 2011 | Fashion
Feel up to a little wearables DIY?
Instructables.com (the largest Do-It-Yourself community on the web) is partnering with BurdaStyle (the largest sewing community on the web) to bring you the BurdaStyle Fashion Challenge. All entries must involve your own clothing creations, whether you’ve been inspired by the runways or had a vision in a dream. It doesn’t matter where the inspiration comes from, as long as the final handiwork is your own. This contest is focused solely on garment design and construction, not accessories.
To enter the BurdaStyle Fashion Challenge submit a Step By Step, Photo, or Video Instructable documenting the process and/or final product of a garment you’ve either sewn by machine or hand, knit, crochet or a combination of garment creation techniques.
They have a huge amount of amaaaaazing prizes (over $3500 worth!), including the Grand Prize: a featured blog post in BurdaStyle, a Singer 191-D20 Industrial Sewing Machine Singer Stylist 11 Serger, a $100 Indygo Junction gift certificate, and a $100 Sublime Stitching gift certificate.
The contest runs until June 12, so get those entries in soon!
****Contest only open to U.S. residents****
Good luck to everyone who enters!
xoxox
Carly
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May 21, 2011 | Fashion
Batwing Sleeve Shirt: ASOS.com
Long Side-Tail top: Spiral Girl
Quartz point “Fang” Necklace: handmade by me
Rings: DIY Pamela Love Arrowhead Ring (tutorial here), Rock Crystal Heart Ring from a rock & gem show, Forever 21 Regal Knuckle Ring
Marbled Perspex Molded Hard Case Bag: ASOS Premium
Dark-Rinse Jeggings: Forever 21
Ann Demeulemeester-style Lace-up Boots: DIY of Forever 21 booties (tutorial here)
Feeling like crud. (more…)
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May 19, 2011 | Life, Score!
I’ve extended the deadline one day and y’all have until midnight TONIGHT (Thursday, May 19) to get those entries in!!
Good luck!:-)
xoxox
Carly
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May 18, 2011 | DIY, Media
I love the idea of using a wicker or straw handbag once the weather warms up. There’s just something about an airy, earthy bag that spells summer to me. Using a basket as a handbag reminds me of delightful childhood stories, dressing up as Alice, tea parties, picnics on the lawn…
And baskets are just about everywhere! Check out a thrift store or a garage sale for the most affordable baskets imaginable. (Baskets with built-in lids are a lot harder to find, but they’re certainly out there!) Craft stores like Michael’s or Jo-Ann’s sell them (but for a lot more than thrift).
This scan from the May 2011 issue of Ray magazine presents a wonderful assortment of basket-style handbags…and though the prices are something to gasp at, there are oodles of wonderful DIY ideas in there as well. Dress up baskets with silk flowers, scraps of lace, purse hardware, pompons, paint, ribbon, or gems, for starters. Add a satin lining, a dried starfish, a vintage brooch, sequin trim, bows, or even a teddy bear’s disembodied head. (!)
I DIY’d a half-moon clutch a couple years ago, by stitching on some puka shells and adding a little tassel pull and braided trim I made from raffia.
So if you can’t find what you’re looking for locally, there’s always Ebay, which is a great source for baskets, straw totes, and wicker clutches. (Like this one below – which looks oh-so-Chloe S/S 2011!)
The only difficulty is narrowing it down to the one you want!
xoxox
Carly
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May 17, 2011 | DIY
Again having to condense a couple weeks into one LOTW. Time is just whizzing by, and there’s not enough hours in the day to check out all the great DIYs and ideas out there. But first, some food for thought:
found on Outsapop
DIY is just re-appropriation of ideas. Sure there are firsts, but we won’t be the lasts – give credit where credit is due, and the world will pay you back tenfold. Or so I believe.
Have you seen LookUnderHere‘s Youtube channel? Some great DIYs in there like a turband, bandeau, and wired headwrap. Definitely check it out!
Speaking of video DIY’ers, Secret Life of a Bio Nerd (of Threadbanger fame) is doing a giveaway! You still have until May 21 to get your entry in. Check out how to enter here.
MIchelle’s Style File posted a Color-Block Bracelet Tutorial. Love the use of the lanyard hook as the closure!
img from Heart + Bleecker
The new luxury is the small wardrobe. Fashionising remarks on the post-modern convergence of style + minimalism in the face of cheap excess.
Did I miss this? Awesome punky DIY Neon Rhinestone Necklace from Glitter n Glued. Bright and super-fun.
I can’t believe I haven’t seen this before! StyleCaster‘s Hardcore DIY Statement Tassel Necklace is another take on the hardware necklace. Super-creative, and check out everything in their Hardcore DIY series which will have you hurrying down to your nearest hardware store to fashion a new spin on your accessories.
I’ve just discovered the blog Syl and Sam and I’m in love with all their DIY’s! Their amazing perforated leather skirt tutorial has me itching to whip out my leather punch!
Sara from Short of Something shared her own version of the elastic shoe-band (similar to my DIY Elastic Shoe Bands that I shared last year). I love the chic ballerina feel hers has!
Katarina from She sells sea shells made over a sweater with lovely leather patches. The inclusion of leather updates the sweater for 2011 and gives it a modern Wang vibe. (Alexander Wang, that is.;-)
Got an extra rug? Or 4 of them? Make your own DIY Bodycon Dress like Geneva from A Pair and A Spare did. It’s so colorful and summery!
If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!
<a href=”https://chiccreativelife.com/category/links-of-the-week”><img src=”https://chiccreativelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/diylotwfeaturedbutton.png” /></a>
And since I’m not doing my DIY Roundups anymore, if you have a DIY project, tutorial, or creation that you’d like to see featured on Chic Steals, please email me at carlyjcais at chic-steals dot com – and I’ll try to squeeze it in to one of my Links of the Week posts!
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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May 16, 2011 | Life
So this now closes my Rings Week series – it actually ended up being TWO weeks as I’ve gotten so behind on things.
This is how I store my rings in my closet: right below my clothing, on top of my tights drawer.
Storing rings (or just about anything) I’ve always found a challenge – because the more you have, the harder it is to make the storage look “neat” and “organized.” My solution is to store my rings with thin bands in a velour-lined case, bought from a jewelry supply shop; it keeps them visible, neat, and looks a little luxurious. (This is a tufted ring display, similar to this one here.)
(I stack another box and 3 layers below this one that hold small stud earrings, chain necklaces, and larger necklaces. Similar flocked inserts are sold here, and the trays are sold here.) But lately I’ve acquired a number of rings that have very thick shanks or wide bands or large, wide stones in them, and have had trouble figuring out how to store/display them. (For me, if I don’t have it on display in front of my face, I completely forget that it’s in my closet.;-) At first I tried compartmentalized boxes, but I own such a range of sizes and widths that I was still left with rings that didn’t fit in the boxes, or tiny, delicate rings that were just left swimming in their compartments. So I now keep my larger rings all jumbled together (they’re costume jewelry anyway) in wide, cotton-lined jewelry gift boxes that have come with one purchase or another at some time. 
You can see some of the ring shanks are wrapped with moleskin to prevent them slipping off my fingers.
Right now this is what’s working best for me.
If you like displaying and storing your jewelry in a professional manner, you can certainly just use what jewelry stores do: velour, denim, plastic, or leather stands and cases are all surprisingly affordable and chic. Some people also like buying tiny busts or miniature mannequins to display their favorite pieces, on top of a dresser or armoire for easy access. You can pile all your rings on long spikes (like those desk accessories that you stab finished receipts onto from old film noir movies) for a long n clustered look.
Brass Desk Spike Paperweight from Amazon.com
: a DIY Ring Holder?
If you like the idea of a ring tray, Smart N Snazzy has a great DIY for making your own, lined in satin. It gives the standard jewelry tray and utterly regal feel.
The ubiquitous hand-holder. (img src)
Some people choose to display their rings on a branched holder; I’ve seen one shaped like deer antlers or trees; some use real sticks and branches to give their collection an earthy, bohemian feel.
Deer from Urban Outfitters; no longer available.:-(
The uber-talented duo from Dismount Creative DIY’d another Urban Outfitters piece: this one, white dollhouse chairs in a tower-cum-jewelry-organizer (which is also a great option if you like the “branch” setup and like to keep things on display). What an inspiring project!
Do you have any ring storage solutions or ideas that work for you? Please let me know in the comments!
Well this Week of Rings has been fun! Hopefully there’s been some info in there that has been inspiring or useful – and helped us all look at those little decorations for our fingers just the slightest bit differently. Thanks for reading along!
xoxo
Carly
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May 15, 2011 | DIY
Aaargh, I almost never do this…but I’ve been back-to-the-wall lately with having a root-canalled tooth (I had a root canal done on it THREE YEARS AGO!) get an infection last month and create an abcess that’s now eating away a hole in jaw (so I’ve been feeling like utter crap for about 5+ weeks and am now on super-heavy-duty antibiotics), a bout of 3 colds in a row ending with the flu last week, and huge project after midterm after huge project due for my classes, not to mention a couple of other personal projects that have all had deadlines this past week. And I have to do prop design and creation and set styling for a video shoot coming up this week and I have barely had time to even start to prep that. I’ve been trying to put together a worthwhile post since Friday but tonight yet again it’s not going to happen.:-(
So I’ll just post some sneaky teaser photos of my next DIY…
It’s lace, it’s EASY, and it has a little secret…
Shhhh!;-) Stay tuned for the tutorial, coming up soon….
Now back to bed so I can fight this infection more and get up nice and early for an emergency root canal (well, re-root-canal, in my case) for tomorrow.
Hope everyone had a great weekend!
xoxox
Carly
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xoxox
Carly
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May 12, 2011 | DIY, Life
Ooooh, I’m so upset I missed this!
Though Easter is long since over, here are some lovely Easter eggs designed for Vogue.com by some brands you may have heard of…like Chanel, Jason Wu and Rag & Bone. The assortment uses materials such as buttons, glitter, quartz spikes, lilac flowers, washi paper, and lace to embellish a variety of eggs ranging from ostrich eggs to chocolate to papier mâché to local certified organic hen’s eggs. (I’m partial to the glowing gold egg and the rocker-style biker chic egg with its own mini-jacket myself!) Check out the pretty and file away in the DIY inspiration file for next year…
Which one speaks to your inner fashionista?
And if you’re wanting even more ideas to store away for 2012, there’s always Martha Stewart’s Gallery of Easter Egg Ideas. (62 of ’em!)
xoxox
Carly
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